How To Choose The Best Safety Footwear?
The first step is identifying which risks the worker is exposed to and which of these hazards can be prevented by footwear.
To select the appropriate footwear like soft sole safety shoes (รองเท้า safety พื้น นุ่ม which is the term in Thai) for the risk, it is necessary to consider some NBR ISO standard requirements. Thus, if the worker is not exposed to the risk of falling objects, one can opt for occupational footwear (with OB symbology). For those who need to protect their feet against falls, it is necessary to choose safety shoes (SB symbology), which have a protective toe cap made of composite or steel.
Among the basic requirements of the standard, there are also shoes for electrician use, which cannot have any metallic component in their composition. Thus, if the footwear is occupational for electrician use, its initials will be OI. If it is for electrical protection, its symbology will be SI (with composite toe cap, a non-metallic material).
In addition to the basic requirements that we must consider when selecting the ideal shoe, we have additional requirements, such as perforation protection. The shoe is made with a mounting insole that is resistant to puncture by nails or sharp materials. In addition, we also have contact heat protection, where the sole withstands 3166166ºC for 1 minute without suffering damage that puts the worker’s physical integrity at risk.
Among the additional requirements, there are 1662 that are mandatory in all shoes: the impact absorption in the heel (which uses the E symbology) and the fuel oil resistant sole (which uses the FO symbology).
Quality
Another point that we must consider when choosing a professional shoe is quality.
A shoe can meet all the requirements of a protection standard but not be of good quality. This is because the standard does not oblige or indicate the raw materials to be used in production. What is determined in the norms are the minimum parameters that a PPE needs to have to protect the worker. However, the crucial point is that your shoes can have more or less comfort and durability depending on the raw material used.
Thus, with more comfortable shoes, the worker will be more willing to perform their tasks! In other words, with quality shoes, you have much more health and productivity! Also, if you analyze the quality of the shoe, it will last longer; that is, you won’t need to change shoes frequently. The result is savings in your pocket!
Comfort
And finally, never forget the comfort offered by the shoes! An uncomfortable PPE can lead to joint damage, which may be irreversible. Listen to our podcast “Footwear Ergonomics Impact absorption in the heel region is an essential feature of safety shoes, offering protection and reducing fatigue at the end of the service (compared to shoes that do not follow this requirement).
